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Gianrico Carofiglio

ジャンリコ・カロフィーリョ

Gianrico Carofiglio

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1961-05-30 （Bari, Italy）
Nationality
Italy
Languages
Italian
Residence History
Bari (born / residence) → Rome (parliamentary work / activity base)

Career

Occupations
magistrate, prosecutor, novelist, politician (former senator)
Active Years
2002-
Influenced By
Carlo Emilio Gadda

Education

University of Bari
Faculty of Law / Department of Law
Degree: Laurea in Giurisprudenza
Country: Italy

Awards

Premio Bancarella
2005
Work: The Past Is a Foreign Country
Organization: Premio Bancarella organization
Result: winner
Campiello Selection Prize
2010
Work: Temporary Perfections
Organization: Campiello Prize organization
Result: selection
Premio Scerbanenco
2014
Work: A Shifting Truth
Organization: Scerbanenco Prize organization
Result: winner
Premio Strega
2020
Work: The Measure of Time
Organization: Strega Prize organization
Result: finalist
Premio Chiara
2010
Work: There Is No Wisdom
Organization: Chiara Prize organization
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Involuntary Witness

2002 legal thriller / courtroom mystery

A legal thriller introducing defense lawyer Guido Guerrieri, who becomes involved in a murder case; explores defense work and moral dilemmas.

justicedoubtethicsthe legal system
Adaptations
  • [television series] Guido Guerrieri (TV series)
Translations
  • English: Involuntary Witness (translated by Patrick Creagh)

The Past Is a Foreign Country

2004 novel / social fiction

A novel about a protagonist confronting his past; adapted into an acclaimed film and received international attention.

memorythe pastatonement
Adaptations
  • [film] The Past Is a Foreign Country (film) / Daniele Vicari (2008)
Translations
  • English: The Past Is a Foreign Country

The Silence of the Wave

2011 novel / mystery

A work that quietly portrays interpersonal conflicts and inner struggles; received critical recognition and award shortlisting.

silencehuman relationshipsguilt and redemption
Translations
  • English: The Silence of the Wave

A Shifting Truth

2014 crime novel

Part of the Pietro Fenoglio series; examines how truth can shift and the complexity of human nature.

truthcriminal investigationmorality

Bibliography

  • Involuntary Witness (2002)
  • A Walk in the Dark (2003)
  • The Past Is a Foreign Country (2004)
  • Reasonable Doubts (2006)
  • Temporary Perfections (2010)
  • The Silence of the Wave (2011)
  • A Fine Line (2014)
  • The Measure of Time (2019)

Adaptations

  • The Past Is a Foreign Country (film, 2008, dir. Daniele Vicari)
  • Television series based on the Guido Guerrieri novels (Italy)

Translations of Works

  • Many works have been translated into English and other languages (e.g. Involuntary Witness, The Past Is a Foreign Country)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
concise, readable proserealistic depiction of legal procedures and lawyers' workdialogue-driven structure
Recurring Motifs
doubt and proofsolitudeintersection of law and ethics

Legacy

A former anti‑Mafia magistrate turned successful novelist. His books have been translated worldwide and sold millions of copies; he is widely respected for legal fiction informed by his professional experience.

In Popular Culture

  • Known to the general public through film and TV adaptations of his works

Trivia

  • Former anti‑Mafia prosecutor who worked for many years in Bari.
  • Reported sales exceed six million copies.
  • Served as a member of the Italian Senate from 2008 to 2013.
  • Has released numerous audiobooks and an audio series (e.g. L'avvocato Guerrieri) read by himself.